Sutton Sweep Aside Stapenhill at Home Fortress
Sutton United produced a commanding display to maintain their unbeaten home record with a 3-0 win over Stapenhill, thanks to goals from Harry Howard, James Spruce and Oli Jeeves.
With five changes to the starting line-up following their defeat last weekend, Sutton utilised their squad depth to deliver a well-deserved win whilst extending their home form to 22 points from a possible 24. It was a performance full of attacking intent alongside defensive discipline and capped by a man-of-the-match display from left-back Joel Newman.
Strong performances from both James Spruce and Oli Jeeves saw them each deliver a goal and an assist, whilst Harry Howard always looked a danger in the final third, netting the opening goal for Sutton and his second of the season.
The home side were positive from the outset, but it was Stapenhill who had the first real chance when Haydn Simpkins timed his run perfectly to break through inside the opening twenty seconds, only to be denied by an alert Gabe Newey who raced out to smother the ball. However, that was as close as the visitors came in the first half, as Sutton quickly imposed themselves on the contest.
United took the lead in the 21st minute when Howard played a smart one-two inside the box with Spruce, before curling a low effort across goalkeeper Sam Calpin and into the far corner for a well-taken opener.
United dominated possession and created several more chances before the break. Oli Jeeves, Tom Massey, and Ollie Burgundy all tested Calpin, but the Stapenhill keeper held firm to keep the deficit at one for the visitors.
The second half followed a similar pattern as Sutton continued to threaten, and Howard came close with two good chances: first, his driven effort through a packed penalty area was blocked by Harry Lansdowne, and then a curling strike was deflected narrowly wide of the far post.
Sutton’s pressure finally told with a devastating two-minute spell just after the hour mark. In the 62nd minute, Newey’s long clearance was flicked on by Oli Jeeves into the path of Spruce, who raced through the middle and finished clinically for his second goal this month.
Barely a minute later, the Greens added a third to take a commanding lead. Tion Pearce fed Burgundy on the right, who cut inside and switched play over to Newman with space on the left to deliver a dangerous cross into the box. Oli Jeeves was the target, but when he was caught by Calpin the referee pointed to the spot, and the Sutton striker picked himself up to make no mistake with the penalty, calmly converting his eighth goal of the season.
Stapenhill responded with a couple of strong long-range efforts from Louis Briscoe, one well held by Newey, and the other forcing a smart diving save from the Sutton keeper, who tipped the ball behind his post.
However, Sutton always looked the more likely to add to their tally. Newman was denied a first senior goal after being put through one-on-one by a superb Burgundy pass, with Calpin standing firm to make the save.
Then in stoppage time, Joe Gildea struck the crossbar when he slid in to meet Newman’s delivery, and Lewis Hayden’s follow-up was cleared off the line by defender Lansdowne.
This win marks Sutton’s 10th clean sheet in 18 league games and keeps them firmly in the mix at the top of the table. But Sutton now take a break from league action, with a County Cup clash against Coventry Copsewood on Tuesday 21st October kick off 7.45pm.
Team: Sutton United
1. Gabe Newey
2. Aidan Mee – 46’ Sam Jeeves
3. Joel Newman
4. Lewis Wall
5. Tion Pearce – 79’ Harry Manton
6. Lewis Hayden
7. James Spruce – 74’ Dylan Green
8. Tom Massey (c) – 74’ Matt Bishop
9. Oli Jeeves – 74’ Joe Gildea
10. Ollie Burgundy
11. Harry Howard
Management/Assistants:
Richard Heath
Liam Burke
Aidan Jeynes
Marcus Davies
Evija Stauga
Derek Culling
Team: Stapenhill
1. Sam Calpin
2. Niall Dawkins
4. Connor Ward
5. Harry Lansdowne
6. Josh Watson
7. Cameron Steele
8. Zachary Hill (c)
9. Louis Briscoe – 73’ Harrison Bruce
15. Dante Edwards – 73’ Cade Chadwick
18. Haydn Simpkins – 63’ Lewis Holmes
19. Thomas Stanley
Unused subs: Issac Taylor-Dedman,
Brad Wright
Management/Assistants:
Louis Briscoe
Stuart Beckett
Andrew Beeston
Nigel Howe
Match Officials: Michael Westmacott, Ben Hayes, David Leary
| Sutton United | Statistics | Stapenhill |
| 3 | Goals | 0 |
| 18 | Attempts | 6 |
| 11 | Attempts on Target | 4 |
| 63% | Possession | 37% |
| 6 | Corners | 2 |
| 7 | Fouls Committed | 13 |
| 1 | Yellow Cards | 3 |
| 0 | Red Cards | 0 |
| Joel Newman | Opp Man of the Match | |
| Joel Newman | Club Man of the Match |